Xleeque Design

Just like it is in English, there is usually more than one way to express a given sentence. For an example, "Mary invited John" can either be phrased as "Mary John invited" (subject-object-verb) or "John Mary invited" (object-subject-verb) in Japanese language. Ambiguous as it may seem, both these sentences are grammatically correct.

Particles are used in such cases to remove ambiguity by tagging subject and object separately. The particle for the action performer (the subject) is ga, and the particle for the action receiver (the direct object) is wo. So "Mary invited John" can be phrased as:

• Mari ga Jon wo sasoimashita
• Jon wo Mari ga sasoimashita

Note that wo should be pronounced as o when used as particle. See below for details.

Other than ga and wo there are also other particles in Japanese language as shown in the tables below. It is important to remember the particles in terms of the general functions, not their English translations.

Particle: ga (Noun Marker)

The particle ga specifies the subject of the sentence, it is generally used to introduce a new subject into an on-going conversation. Unlike particle wa,there can only be one ga in a sentence.

• Maria-san ga Jon san wo paatii ni sasotteimashita
  Maria invited Jon to the party
• Dare ga Jon san wo paatii ni sasotteimashita ka?
  Who invited Jon to the party?
• Watashi ga Jon san wo paatii ni sasotteimashita
  I (was the one who) invited Jon to the party
• Neko ga tabete imasu
  The cat is eating

Particle: wo (Direct Object Marker)

The particle wo specifies the direct object of a verb: the target of an action. It comes after the object and before the verb. The verb that comes after wo can be an active, passive, or causative verb-form, but regardless, the verb will always act on what precedes wo in some way.

Note that the Japanese character is pronounced as o instead of wowhen use as particle. One should not confuse it with the vowel o.

• Mari ga Jon wo sasoimashita
  Mary invited John
• Neko ga mizu wo nonde imasu
  The cat is drinking water
• Sakana wo tabemasu ka?
  Do you eat fish?
• Sakana wo katte imasu
  I have fish as pets
• Watashi wa ringo wo kaimashita
  I bought an apple
• Biiru wo kudasai
  Beer please

Particle: kara (from, after, because)

The particle kara specifies the starting point of an action (movement or process), if it is used against a noun (that starting point). When kara is used against a verb, it then translates into "after" or "because".

• Kuji kara benkyo shimashita
  I studied from 9 o'clock
• Tokyo kara kaerimashita
  He returned from Tokyo
• Owatte kara, kite kudasai
  Please come by after you've finished

Particle: made (up to, until, as far as)

The particle made specifies the ending point of an action (movement or process), this ending point can either be time or a destination (place).

• Sanji made benkyo shimashita
  I studied until 3 o'clock
• Kaeru made matte imasu
  I will wait until you come home
• Kono densha wa, Shimonoseki made ikimasu
  This train, goes as far as Shimonoseki

Particle: ni (at, to)

The particle ni is used to describe location, and it can be used like "at" when describing a time, or "to" when describing a destination.

• Sanji ni tsukimashita
  I arrived at 3 o'clock
• Hachiji ni ie o demasu
  I leave home at eight o'clock
• Nihon ni ikimashita
  I went to Japan
• Rainen nihon ni ikimasu
  I'm going to Japan next year
• Tokyo ni tsukimashita
  I arrived at Tokyo
• Kinou ginkou ni ikimashita
  I went to the bank yesterday
• Hoshi ni tonde ikimasu
  Fly to the stars

Particle: e (Destination marker)

When particle e is used against a preceeding noun, it specifies the noun as the destination (of a verb that describes a motion).

Note that the Japanese character is pronounced as e instead of hewhen use as particle.

• Tokyo he ikimashita
  I went to/towards Tokyo
• Okaasan wa mise he ikimasu
  Mother is going to the store
• Nihon he yokoso!
  Welcome to Japan!

References and Credits

Thanks to Stacey and Nekojita who have helped a great deal in getting the content of this article right!